About 600,000 children in DR Congo not vaccinated

Kinshasa, DR Congo (PANA) – Some 600,000 children were not covered in DR Congo's countrywide routine vaccination programme last week, the minister of Public Health, Victor Mankwenge Kaput, said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press briefing in line with the hosting by DR Congo of the African vaccination week from 25 to 30 April, he said efforts would focus on the vaccination against poliomyelitis and the care-taking of children who escaped the routine vaccination.

The epidemiologic situation of poliomyelitis in DRC was estimated at 100 cases in 2010 and 46 from January to April this year.

The African vaccination week was celebrated in April last week.

Makwenge urged governors of provinces to be fully involved in the eradication of wild polio virus.
-0- PANA KON/AAS/MSA/MA 26April2011